Who Was Wilford Brimley? The Yellowstone Title Card Explained

Wilford Brimley's Yellowstone dedication, in the form of a title card honoring his death, confused many fans who wondered if the character actor appeared on the show. Yellowstone is Taylor Sheridan's wildly popular neo-Western series that follows the Dutton ranching family as they try to protect their land and legacy as it is attacked from all sides. With its modern-yet-timeless stories set against the backdrop of the American West, Yellowstone and its abundance of spinoffs have helped to put the genre back on the map for the first time in decades with a fresh take.

Tipping its hat to a true legend of the Western genre, Yellowstone season 3, episode 9, "Meaner Than Evil" eulogized Brimley, who had passed away earlier in 2020 at the age of 85. The solemn card that played at the end of the episode wasn't the only time the show had honored someone of note, and country singer John Prine was honored in season 4. Shows like Yellowstone owe a great deal to the history of the Western genre, and though it was a small gesture, the title card was an acknowledgment of all the important people who came before.

Wilford Brimley Was An Actor Known For Appearing In Westerns

Brimley Never Appeared On Yellowstone

Wilford Brimley was cut out for shows like Yellowstone, and though he himself never actually appeared in the show, his career saw him play a host of characters that would have fit right in with the Duttons. Brimley started his career as a stuntman and background actor in various Westerns of the 1950s and '60s.

Eventually, the actor with a distinct look was promoted to major roles where he largely played character parts that earned him recognition. Brimley starred in films like The China Syndrome and The Thing throughout the '70s and '80s, before settling in as the spokesperson for Quaker Oaks and Liberty Medical in his older age.

Fans of Yellowstone were confused to see an actor who looked a lot like Wilford Brimley appear in season 4, episode 5, "Under a Blanket of Red," especially considering the actor had passed in 2020. However, the cowpoke in question actually wasn't Wilford Brimley at all but Barry Corbin playing the role of Ross, who works at the 6666 Ranch.

Corbin himself is a celebrated character actor, and his notable credits mostly include a slew of Westerns just like his fellow mustachioed actor, Wilford Brimley. Corbin scored two Emmy wins for his starring role as Maurice on the forgotten hit showNorthern Exposure.

Yellowstone Honored Wilford Brimley With A Title Card In Season 3

Brimley Died In 2020 At The Age Of 85

Brimley's impact on the Western genre was such that a touching eulogy was almost necessary when he passed away in 2020. He never appeared on Yellowstone, but the sort of rough-and-tumble figures he was known for playing earlier in his career would influence Sheridan's personal view of the West and its colorful characters.

The title card read simply "In loving memory of Wilford Brimley" which was followed by a one-line eulogy "A cowboy, an artist, and a damn good friend". The title card was not only a tribute to the character actor, but a way for Brimley's legacy to forever be linked to Yellowstone.

What Wilford Brimley & Barry Corbin Are Known For

Brimley Had A Wide Range Of Roles Outside Of Westerns

Both Wilford Brimley and Barry Corbin have enjoyed long and successful careers in movies and television, cementing their strong legacy as actors. Brimley established his connection to the Western genre early on with his acting career beginning with a bit role in the John Wayne Western classic True Grit. However, some of Brimley's most acclaimed and popular roles have actually been outside of the Western genre.

Brimley led the cast of the Ron Howard sci-fi movie Cocoon, with Brimley not even 50 years old when he played the part of a leader of geriatric residents of a nursing home. Brimley also starred alongside his good friend Robert Duvall in the movie Tender Mercies, played a weary baseball manager opposite Robert Redford in The Natural, and a villain opposite Tom Cruise in The Firm. Likely Brimley's most famous role was as the initially level-headed Blair who gradually succumbs to paranoia in John Carpenter's classic The Thing.

Wilford Brimley's Memorable Roles:

Corbin has also stuck mostly to supporting roles in his career and has cultivated a strong persona in the Western genre as well. One of his stand-out performances is his brief cameo as Ellis in No Country for Old Men. His scene with Tommy Lee Jones is powerful with the two reuniting after appearing in the miniseries Lonesome Dove years earlier. Corbin has also appeared in One Tree Hill as Coach Whitey Durham and in another Taylor Sheridan series, Tulsa King.

Barry Corbin's Memorable Roles:

While both men have the stoic cowboy personas that have served them well throughout their careers, on Yellowstone or not, they have also both had memorable roles on beloved sitcoms. Brimley costarred on Seinfeld in season 5 as the Post Master General who sets Kramer straight after his mail boycott. Corbin, meanwhile, appeared in three episodes of Modern Family as Merle, Cameron Tucker's father.

Yellowstone stars Kevin Costner and centers on his character John Dutton. Dutton and his family live on a cattle ranch just a few hours away from Yellowstone National Park. The series chronicles the family’s struggle to defend their home from an Indian reservation and land developers. As if their life wasn’t complicated enough, the Duttons also have medical issues, political aspirations, and family secrets stacked against them.

Cast Kevin Costner , Finn Little , Brecken Merrill , Gil Birmingham , Denim Richards , Ian Bohen , Danny Huston , Kelly Reilly , Forrie J. Smith , Cole Hauser , Kelsey Asbille , Wes Bentley , Jefferson White , Luke Grimes , Ryan Bingham

Release Date June 20, 2018

Seasons 5

Creator(s) Taylor Sheridan , John Linson